5° The Conquest of Silesia. 174*

her situation was still very critical. As she could not
yet resolve to grant terms which would satisfy

Critical situ- ~ , . , . ,,. , rut •, -,

ation of Ma- Frederick, she was obliged to fall back on her
ria Theresa. Hungarian subjects. The Hungarians had
usually been rather a source of apprehension than of
security to the Austrian monarchy, but Maria Theresa
won their loyal support by important concessions. She
promised to restore their ancient constitution, which had
The Hun- ^een abolished by her ancestors, and the Hun-
garians garian magnates, touched by the misfortunes

support her °. . . ° , , .- , . ,

loyally, of their young and beautiful sovereign, voted
September. ^^ acciamatiOn an insurrection or general
arming of the country.

The insurrection would have been of little use to the
queen if her enemies had really desired her destruction.
She might easily have been overwhelmed before the
Hungarians could take the field. But, while the French
were holding back for fear of making the Elector of
Bavaria too strong, the King of Prussia allowed himself
Compact to ke detached from his allies. Frederick had
of Klein been pursuing a very tortuous policy durinsr

Schnellen- r °_ . _,. J . f

dorf, Octo- the summer. In spite of his treaty with
ber 9* France he continued to negotiate with Austria,

and on October 9 he met Neipperg at the Castle of
Klein Schnellendorf, and agreed to a secret compact.
Neipperg was to be allowed to retire unmolested into
Moravia, and Neisse was to be delivered to Frederick
after a feigned siege. A definitive peace was to be con-
cluded before the end of the year. Frederick insisted
on the compact being kept a profound secret, and inti-
mated his intention of disavowing it if it should be allowed
to transpire.

The compact was of great advantage to Maria Theresa,
as it enabled her to concentrate her forces against her
remaining enemies. Neipperg, released from Silesia,